- George Chung
- Jul 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Day five of the Paris Olympics is set to be a thrilling day in the judo tournament, especially in the women’s U70kg and men’s under-90kg categories. The women’s competition is highly competitive with no clear favorites, while in the men's division, all eyes are on Lasha Bekauri as he defends his Olympic title.
In the women’s U70kg category, the field is predominantly European, with Japan's Saki Niizoe, seeded fifth, being a notable exception. Barbara Matic of Croatia, a double World Champion and the current European Champion, leads the competition and will be carrying her country’s flag at the opening ceremony. Matic, the top seed, is primed for a significant triumph.
Marie Eve Gahie of France, the 2023 European Champion and former World Champion, is another top contender. With the advantage of a home crowd, Gahie could be propelled to the finals. Greek judoka Elisavet Teltsidou, who may face Matic in a repeat of the European Championship final, is a formidable opponent. Austria’s Michaela Polleres, the Tokyo silver medalist and her country's flag bearer, is highly motivated to upgrade her medal to gold.
Dutch judoka Sanne Van Dijke, a World and Olympic medalist, has focused on recovery and preparation, aiming for peak performance in Paris. Germany’s Miriam Butkereit, after recovering from an injury, is ready to compete for a medal. Spain's Ai Tsunoda Roustant, a young and promising talent, is also a strong contender.
Italy’s Kim Polling, who transferred from the Netherlands and qualified for the Olympics this year, adds an intriguing element to the competition. Balancing her return to the sport with family life, Polling aims to cap off her journey with a strong performance.
In the men’s under-90kg category, Georgia’s Lasha Bekauri is the top seed and defending his Tokyo Olympic title. Known for his dynamic judo, Bekauri’s matches will be a highlight. Serbia's Nemanja Majdov, with a recent rise in rankings and a European title, is another key competitor.
Hungary’s Toth Krisztian, an Olympic bronze medalist and consistent performer, is in pursuit of a major gold medal, potentially achieving it this year. Turkey’s Mihael Zgank, buoyed by a strong finish to 2023 and a gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam in early 2024, is a strong contender. Italy’s Christian Parlati, a crucial member of the Italian team, is expected to perform at his best.
Outside the seeded positions, emerging talents like Spain's Tristani Mosakhlishvili, a World bronze medalist, and Azerbaijan’s Eljan Hajiyev, the current European Champion, are capable of causing upsets. Germany’s Eduard Trippel, the Olympic silver medalist, remains an outsider but could surprise again.
Day five of judo at the Paris Olympics promises to be packed with excitement and high-stakes competition.
